William The Conquer

William The Conqueror was the son of the duke of
Normandy. He had spent the first 6 years of his life with his
mother in Falaise. In 1035 AD his father died and he received the
Duchy Of Normandy.

William had to learn how to survive at a young age
because the Barons constantly rebelled in Normandy during
Williams childhood and youth adult years. The barons would not
accept a illegitimate son as their leader so they made plots to
kill William. As a result of the barons rebelling Williams
guardians were killed. William was then forced to accept Ralph of
Wacy as his guardian and protection. William did not like this
because Ralph had been involved in the plot that killed Williams
guardians and against William himself.

In 1053 AD William married Matilda of Flanders
which was the daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders. Over the
next 16 years William had become a father to 8 kids. His oldest
was named Robert Curthose; His second oldest was named Richard
but he died in a hunting accident in 1075 AD; his third oldest
was named Cecily; then came William Rufus; then Agatha; then
Henry Beauclerk; then Adela; and finally Harold of Wessex.

Williams power in Normandy was under constant
threat. After two french invasions William was finally able to
capture Maine. At first the people of Maine were unwilling to
accept him as their leader. But after William set out a attack on
Maine people slowly began to accept him as their leader.

In 1064 Williams son Harold of Wessex was on a
ship that had shipwrecked on the coast of Ponthieu and was
captured by Count Guy of Ponthieu who imprisoned him at Beaurain.
William demanded the release of his son into his care and Count
Guy agreed. Then Harold went to Rouen with his father.

Later in life William had become very fat and in
1087 AD William was told that king Philip of France described him
as a pregnant woman. William was furious and mounted a attack on
king Philips territory. On August 15, 1087 AD William captured
mantes and set fire to the town, soon afterward he fell off his
horse and suffered major internal injuries. William was taken to
the priory of St. Gervase close to death. Right before he died he
told his son Robert that he should succeed him in Normandy and
his other son William Rufus should become king of England.
William also wanted his wealth to be distributed between the poor
and the church. William died September 9, 1087 AD.

William had a very savage and insecure childhood
but in the end this is what had formed him into the man we all
knew before he died. A lot of kids usually have a hard childhood
but towards the end of their life they are very successful and
also very well organized. For instance I have always had a hard
childhood and I plan to grow up to own my own bakery somewhere
because I learned to cook when I was 5 years old. In order for me
to do that I have to be brave and strong like William. So
basically what I am trying to say is William had a huge impact on
France because he was strong, brave, and he never gave up. In a
way each and every one of us is like William.